Sen. Kay Hagan (D-NC), a closely watched Democrat facing reelection in 2014, said Monday she will support the Manchin-Toomey compromise legislation to expand background checks.
“As a mother there is nothing more important to me than protecting our kids,” Hagan said in a statement sent to TPM by her office. “I am looking at each proposal to ensure it is common sense, will be effective and will not infringe on Second Amendment rights. This plan represents a commonsense solution reached by two of my colleagues — one a Democrat, one a Republican — and I plan to support the bipartisan proposal.
“It respects law-abiding North Carolina gun owners by exempting transfers between family members and friends, allowing concealed carry permits issued within the last five years to serve in lieu of a background check, and explicitly banning the federal government from creating a registry.”
“I am concerned that amendments banning assault weapons and high capacity magazines could infringe on the rights of lawful gun owners, and I will not support such measures.”
